Putin never lost a war, will achieve goals in Ukraine: Newsweek
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US-based magazine Newsweek says that Russian President Vladimir Putin succeeded, during previous conflicts, in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Crimea, in giving his armed forces clear and achievable military objectives.
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Russian Army in Giorgia, 2008
US-based magazine Newsweek published on Sunday an article entitled: "Putin has never lost a war, Here is how he'll win in Ukraine." The article expected the Russian president will achieve the goals of his operation in Ukraine saying it is unlikely to be any different.
Newsweek said in its analysis that as the fight of wills and might between Russia and the West over Ukraine's fate plays out, one thing to remember is that Vladimir Putin has never lost a war.
During previous conflicts in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Crimea over his two decades in power, Putin was successful because he set clear, attainable military objectives for his armed forces, allowing him to declare victory in the eyes of the Russian people and a wary, watching world. "His latest initiative in Ukraine is unlikely to be any different."
Despite months of military build-up along Ukraine's border and repeated warnings from the Biden administration that an incursion could happen at any time, the special military operation that Russia launched on February 24 seemed surprising to many Ukrainians.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin destabilized Europe's post-Cold War security order in an instant, one centered by an ever-expanding NATO alliance, much to "Russia's fury."
"Once Kyiv falls, the military aggression will give way to a political settlement that puts a Russia-friendly government in place," Newsweek said.
By the 25th of February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was mulling a Moscow invitation to hold "neutrality" talks in Belarus. If those discussions take place, Putin will be able to withdraw forces and bring the crisis to a close, while dealing the West "a humiliating blow."
Western officials unanimously agreed that President Putin does not want or does not need to control all of Ukraine to achieve his goals, the magazine said, but seeks to overthrow the Western-leaning Ukrainian leadership headed by Zelensky, and replace it with a government that will be pro-Moscow, Newsweek continued.
According to the magazine, Russia is now back in the spotlight, a country that, by displaying its military might, is showing that it is still a "great power," which is exactly where Putin wants his nation to be.
Intelligence experts in the United States privately disagree with Biden's optimism about "mass disobedience" in Ukraine. "After the government in Kyiv is dismantled, there will be no opposition within Ukraine for us to support militarily," one official told Newsweek on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the record.
The magazine noted that the United States and its allies responded with a sharp escalation of economic sanctions, but it is unclear whether these steps will deter the Russian leader.
However, It is unclear how effective the sanctions are. Putin believes he has succeeded in making his country immune to sanctions. "Russia has over $630 billion in hard currency reserves and rakes in $14 billion per month in oil and gas exports," Newsweek noted.
Viktor Tatarintsev, Russia's ambassador to Sweden, told Swedish daily Aftonbladet just days before the military operation when the West ratcheted up threats of financial sanctions in a vain attempt to deter military action, "Excuse my language, but we don't give a s**t about your sanctions."
Russia launched a special operation to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine on Thursday, in response to requests from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for assistance in combating Ukrainian troops' aggression.
Russia had for months been warning of the threat posed against it by NATO's attempts to expand eastward, which happened simultaneously with an increase in NATO military activity along Russia's borders, and batches of lethal weapons being sent to Ukraine, prompting Russia to request security guarantees from the West. Washington failed to provide the guarantees.
After the West did not respond to Russia's demands, and amid Ukrainian shelling on the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, President Vladimir Putin initiated a special military operation in Donbass.
